Prestige History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Prestige is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when a family lived in Prestwick, Northumberland, or in Prestwich, in Cheshire. Prestwich is now part of Greater Manchester. The place names Prestwick and Prestwich have an identical etymology; they are derived from the Old English words preost, which meant priest, and wic, which meant farm. The place names taken as a whole mean "priest's farm."

Early Origins of the Prestige family

The surname Prestige was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Prestige family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prestige research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1250 is included under the topic Early Prestige History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prestige Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Prestige family name include Prestwick, Preswick, Preswicke, Prestwich and others.

Early Notables of the Prestige family

More information is included under the topic Early Prestige Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Prestige family to Ireland

Some of the Prestige family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prestige migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Prestige Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Samuel Prestige, a carpenter, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832

Prestige migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Prestige Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Prestige, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
Ann Prestige, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
Emily Prestige, aged 7, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874

The Prestige Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In te domine speravi
Motto Translation: In thee, O Lord, I have placed my hope.